ILIGAN City: Destinations and Tour

Hi Guys! Are you a traveler? Wanted to go somewhere but doesn’t have any ideas? Why not stop over here and see some beautiful sight here in the place called the City of Falls or known as Iligan City. I got this interesting information from a store and wanted to share it with you guys. I don’t want all the goods to be on my side. Sharing is loving. Hope the Tourism here in Iligan won’t mind me sharing this based on their pamphlet. Where are we going to start?

Getting here:

The fastest and most convenient is to take a plane from Manila or Cebu to Cagayan de Oro, with seven flights from Manila for 1 hour and 20 minutes, and from Cebu for 20 minutes. From Cagayan de Oro, you can take either a bus or a taxi or rent a car and travel 89 kilometers to Iligan.

Its public sea-port serves passenger ships taking Iligan-Cebu and Iligan-Manila routes and cargo vessels both inter-island and foreign.

Language Dialect:

Cebuano, the major dialect in the city is reported as the mother tongue of 94% of the population. The remaining 6% of the population speaks Tagalog, Maranao, Ilonggo, Ilocano and Waray-waray. Conversational English is however spoken and understood by the majority of the population, the street and directional signs are likewise in English.

Topography:

Iligan City is located at the northeastern coast of Mindanao facing Iligan Bay; 795 kms. South of Manila.

Iligan’s Topography is such that 65% of the area is mountainous; 30% nearly level to moderately sloping and only 4% is level. Its coastal plains have a maximum expanse of only 3 square kilometers. The mountains running parallel with the coastal plains are not very high and do vary in size.

Literally hidden in a deep ravine, the falls cascading beautifully into a basin-like pool, clean, deep and icy cold. Located at Barangay Ditucalan, 13.8 kilometers from the city proper. To get to the waterfalls, simply take motorcycle ride which are parked along the highway in Brgy. Buru-un. Fare usually cost 25 pesos per passenger.

Macaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral House

The house boasts as the only house in Mindanao where two Philippine Presidents resided. One being the father, and the other the daughter, Pres. Diosdado Macapagala and Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, respectively. In 1994, upon the instigation of the Pres. Diosdado Macapagal, the lot where the house stands and a two hectare cocoland nearby were donated to the City Government of Iligan for the purpose of developing the place into tourist destination with the memorabilia of the Macaraeg-Macapagal family in exhibit. Nita declaration…

Iligan City Hall

Situated on top of Buhanginan Hill, 130 feet above sea level, is the seat of Government of Iligan, built way back 1958. It is also a favorite promontory of Ilganons for viewing the sunset or skyline of the city by night. The grounds are sometimes utilized for official social functions,

Anahaw Open Amphi-Theater

This is located at the Buhanginan Hills in the south-eastern side of the city hall. It is only 2.3 kilometers from the city proper. Probably the biggest open Amphi theater in Mindanao. A beautiful site to view Iligan City, where children can romp around the playground. The road going to the top of the hill is challenge and favorite destination for early morning exercise.

National Power Corporation (NPC) NATURE’S PARK

This is home to Iligan’s famous landmark, the Maria Cristina Falls. It is the most resplendent among the 20 plus water-falls and also known as the “Mother of Industry”. It is 320 feet high, spews 130 cubic meters per second of water and the veritable source of power in the city and some parts of Mindanao. Located at the borders of Barangay Ditucalan, Maria Cristina and Buru-un, 9.3 kilo-meters from the city proper. The NPC complex houses Agus VI & VII HEPP, generating 200 MW & 54 MW respectively, thereby assuring ample amount of electrical needs to its clients in this part of Mindanao.

The National Power Corporation has managed to preserve the verdant surroundings. In 2006, it started introducing other amenities and facilities attune to its environment-rich area. Some added attractions are the Butterfly and Orchid Garden, Zipline, tree climbing, canteen, souvenir shop, picnic cabanas, and a lot more.

Mimbalot Falls

One of the 3 water falls found inside the Tourism Triangle Development zone. It is the smallest but the most accessible being located 500m from the highway. Brgy. Buru-un host this waterfalls along with the Timoga Swimming Pools, Maze Park & Resort and the Iligan Paradise Resort.

Diyandi Festival sa Iligan

Folklore depicts Iligan’s patron saint, St. Michael the Archangel as the protector of peace. During the 70s, at the height of the secessionist hostilities in Mindanao, people believed that Iligan remained untouched and safe from rebel attacks because of the miracles of St. Michael.

One evening, when a hostile group was poised to attack Iligan City, the rebels retreated because they could not find the city as it was transformed into lake. Another story told is that the Patron Saint makes his rounds in the evening as evidenced by amorseko grass on his clothes and muddy boots.

These are just a few of the many stories about St. Michael passed on from generation to generation. Even the story of his installation as patron saint of Iligan continues to inspire and endear him to each every Ilganon. His feast every 29th of September, is a grand celebration in Iligan, In fact, it has transformed into a month long festival, the DIYANDI FESTIVAL SA ILIGAN.

DIYANDI is a ritual performed by an all-female group outside the Cathedral during the Pagkanaug, before every novena and before the start of the Komedya, or Comedia de San Miguel, a folk stage play depicting the celestial battle. The ritual depicts the courtship between Maranao male and Higaonon female, and culminating into offering symbolic of their union and bountiful harvest to St. Michael the Archangel. The ritual aptly describes the peaceful co-existence of Iligan’s ti-people-Maranao, Higaonons and Christians.

If you’d like to visit and see the various attractions that Iligan offers, you may request for a tour guide at the City Tourism Office or you may wish to go around on your own. Here are some tips for the unguided tourist for a whole day tour.

ITINERARY

WHAT TO DO?

7:00 Breakfast

8:00 ETD Buhanginan Hills

From Poblacion (City Proper) take a Jeepney (Iligan-Pala-o City Hall City Hospital and inform driver to take you to City Hall. Fare P 7.50

8:15 ETD Buhanginan Hills

Buhanginan Hill houses the City Hall which is 52 years old, the New Sangguniang Panlungsod building, the Anahaw Amphitheater. You’ll get a good view of the city from the Buhanginan Hill too. Some 200 meters from City Hall is the Bahay Salakot which houses the City Tourism office.

9:30 ETD for Maria Cristina Falls

Take a jeepney from Buhanginan Hill to City Proper. Tell the Driver to drop you at the East-West Bank, infront of the Masonic Temple and pay a fare of P7.50. From there, take a jeepney (Iligan-Buru-un) to Maria Cristina Falls. Fare is approximately P14.00. Inform the driver to drop you at the crossing going to Maria Cristina Falls.

From the crossing of the national highway and road leading to Maria Cristina Falls is the NPC main gate which is some 150 meters from the highway. You shall be asked to register at the gate. Fill-out some forms and pay an entrance fee of 35 per person.

As the waterfalls is yet located some 800 meters from the gate, a shuttle ride is available at P10 per person which will take you around the complex.

Maria Cristina Falls is open to the public every day, from 8 o’clock in the morning until 4 o’clock in the afternoon.

11:45 ETD from Maria Cristina Falls to Timoga

From the gate of NPC complex, walk towards the highway and cross it. From there, take a Buru-un bound jeepney and tell the driver to drop you at Timoga. Fare is P7.50. There are stalls along Timoga highway where you can take your lunch. Recommended restaurant/eatery is the Gloria’s Ihaw-ihaw and must-eat (for pork eating tourist) is lechon (roasted pig) and puso (hanging rice.)

1:00 Macaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral House

Across Timoga’s food stalls is the Macaraeg-macapagal Ancestral House where two Philippine presidents have stayed.-President Diosdado Macapagal and President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

1:30 ETD for Mimbalut Falls

Across the MAcaraeg-Macapagal Ancestral House, take an Iligan-Buru-un jeepney and inform the driver to take you to the School Fisheries, Fare is P7.50. Jeepneys make their u-turn at the School Fisheries as it is the end of the line. Get off from where they make their u-turn and walk some 500 meters to Mimbalot Falls. After viewing, walk back to the highway and take Buru-un-Iligan Bound.

2:00 ETD for Tinago Falls

Tell the driver to drop you at the Buru-un talipapa(stal selling fishes and vegetables). Fare is 7.50. At the talipapa are habal-habal (motocycles used as public transport). Inform dispatcher that you are going to Tinago Falls. The rate is P25 per person, for minimum of 2 passengers per motorcycle. If you are alone and you do not wish to wait for additional passenger then the fare is P50. You may make arrangements with the driver to pick you up at the Tinago vicinity and special rates can be arranged and negotiated. At the Parking area going to the TInago Falls, guides/porters can be arranged. Fees can be negotiated.

***The fares/ and other rates indicated above are based on current fares (as of August 2012) and may therefore change depending on legislated/approved rates.

Aside from the places that were mentioned, there are those other places that are also a good recommendation for you to see, which in myself haven’t also got there.

Dalipuga Falls

Dalipuga Falls

Pam Pam Falls

pampam falls

Kalubihon Falls

Kalubihon

Hindang Falls

Hindang Falls

It is actually located before you reach the baranggay hall and is just a 7 minute trek from the road. But to be sure, you can ask your guide from the cave to take you to the water falls.

Hindang Cave

Hindang Cave

In order to get here, you need to take a jeepney from the city proper to Brgy. Kiwalan. Get off at the junction road right in front of Granex-port. A few meters from the highway is the jeepney going to Brgy. Hindang, stopping at their baranggay hall (which is usually the end of the route if you take the jeepney marked. Brgy. Hindang). The usual fare is P50.00 per person. Upon reaching the barangay hall, register at their log book and pay P5.00.

Ask for Assitance from the locals for guides to take you to the caves. It will be a 2 hour trek going up a little bit steep trail. Don’t forget to bring extra tshirt and drinking water as wekk as good flashlights. Usually guide fee is 300 for a group. Guide Fees are negotiable.

Dodiongan Falls

Dodiongan Falls

Take a jeepney from the city proper to Brgy. Digkilaan/Dulag (marked 8A) and get down at the junction going to Siarza Memorial School. Ask for assistance from the locals to guide you going to the waterfalls. The trek is an easy one but be ready to get wet when you cross the usually ankle deep water. The trek usually will take you 20 minutes.

The pictures that were attached to here were from internet, and im hoping I could put some pictures that i did captured on those places. I am planning to explore this places with some friends in this month of November. Anyway, if you got a chance, try to drop by here in Iligan and see this places that you will never see in other places here in Philippines.

If you are the typical person who love to bring some souvenirs, there are also stores that you can choose from and these are Cheddin’s Peanut, Ming’s Antique Collection and Suka Pinakurat.

About Me

Jomairah Mulay is the founder and writer of Emotion at Peek. She lived in Marawi City, a place thousand miles from the central city of the Philippines. She is a worker at day, and a blogger during no office hours. I love Japan, and that's no joke:) Blogging gives me the feeling of having my own space when the world is occupied with so much buzz. You can email me through emotionatpeek@gmail.com or send me a message through this number +639279940053. Have a great days Guyz:)